Terminal and method for operating same

ABSTRACT

A method for operating a terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: displaying a text tool window; receiving an inputted character sequence and displaying all of the received character sequences on the displayed text tool window; receiving an input for deleting characters for deleting a portion of the character sequences from among all of the displayed character sequences; receiving an input for recovering characters for recovering the deleted portion of the character sequences; and recovering and displaying the deleted portion of the character sequences according to the received input for recovering characters.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure herein relates to a terminal and a method foroperating the same, and more particularly, to a method of automaticallyrecovering deleted characters.

BACKGROUND ART

Terminals may be classified into mobile/portable terminals andstationary terminals depending on the mobility. The mobile terminals maybe further classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mountterminals depending on whether a user may carry them in person.

As the functions of the terminals are diversified, the terminals arebeing implemented as multimedia players having complex functionsincluding taking pictures, recording video, playing music or videofiles, gaming, receiving the broadcasting, reproducing articles ormagazines.

As such, as the terminals are implemented to function as the multimediaplayers, users need to input, delete, correct or recover characters.

However, it is true that user interfaces that enable characters to beeasily input, deleted, corrected or recovered on the screens of theterminals are not provided.

In the case of a terminal having a touch screen according to a typicalembodiment, there is a need to move a cursor to a character having atypographical error to correct the error when input characters have thetypographical error. In this case, when the cursor is moved to thecharacter having the error, there is inconvenience in that a portion ofa character string that has been correctly input is deleted thus usersneed to input the deleted portion of the character string one by one.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a terminal that may automatically recover deletedcharacters through a user input, and a method for operating the same.

Technical Solution

In one embodiment, a method of operating a terminal includes displayinga text tool window, receiving a character string input to display awhole of the received character string on the displayed text toolwindow, receiving a character deletion input for deleting a portion ofthe displayed character string, receiving a character recovery input forrecovering the deleted portion of the character string, and recoveringand displaying the deleted portion of the character string according tothe receiving of the character recovery input.

In another embodiment, a terminal includes a touch screen comprising atouch sensor and a display unit, and a control unit, wherein the controlunit displays a text tool window, receives a character string input todisplay a whole of the received character string on the displayed texttool window, receives a character deletion input for deleting a portionof the displayed character string, receives a character recovery inputfor recovering the deleted portion of the character string, recovers anddisplays the deleted portion of the character string according to thereceiving of the character recovery input.

Advantageous Effects

According to an embodiment, deleted character strings may be easilyrecovered by a simple touch operation.

Also, it is possible to insert a character between characters by asimple touch operation and deleted character strings may be easilyrecovered after the insertion of the character.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal related to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of recovering a character by aterminal according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows the process of displaying a text tool window according toan embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the process of displaying a characteraccording to character input reception according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the process of deleting a characteraccording to character input reception according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the processes of receiving a newcharacter input while characters are partially deleted and of displayingthe changed state of the newly input character according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 7 to 10 are diagrams for explaining the processes of receiving arecovery input for recovering deleted characters according to anembodiment and of displaying the deleted characters according to thereception of the recovery input.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of recovering a character by aterminal according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the process of entering, by aterminal, a character insertion mode according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the process of displaying an inputcharacter through a user input while a text tool window has entered acharacter insertion mode according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 14 to 17 are diagrams for explaining the processes of receiving arecovery input for recovering deleted characters and of displaying thedeleted characters according to the reception of the recovery inputaccording to another embodiment.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A mobile terminal related to an embodiment is described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. Since the suffixes “module” and“unit” for components used in the following description are given andinterchanged for only facilitation of description, they do not havedistinct meanings or functions.

Terminals described in the present disclosure may include cellularphones, smart phones, laptop computers, digital broadcasting terminals,personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMPs),and navigation devices. However, a person skilled in the art may easilyappreciate that a configuration according to an embodiment describedherein may be applied not only to the mobile terminal but also to afixed terminal, such as a digital TV or desktop computer, except when itis possible to apply to the mobile terminal only.

A structure of a terminal according to an embodiment is described belowwith reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment.

A terminal 100 may include a wireless communication unit 110, anaudio/video (AV) input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, an interface unit 170, a controlunit 180, and a power supply unit 190. Since the components shown inFIG. 1 are not essential, a mobile terminal having more or lesscomponents than those may also be implemented.

In the following, the components above are discussed one by one.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules thatenable wireless communication between the terminal 100 and a wirelesscommunication system or between the terminal 100 and a network in whichthe terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communicationunit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobilecommunication module 112, a wireless internet module 113, a short rangecommunication module 114, and a position information module 115.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives a broadcast signal and/orbroadcast related information from an external broadcast managementserver through a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel or a terrestrialchannel. The broadcast management server may indicate a server thatgenerates and transmits a broadcast signal and/or broadcast relatedinformation, or a server that receives a pre-generated broadcast signaland/or broadcast related information and transmits them to a terminal.The broadcast signal may also include a broadcast signal formed bycombining a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal with a databroadcast signal, in addition to the TV broadcast signal, the radiobroadcast signal, and the data broadcast signal.

The broadcast related information may mean information on a broadcastchannel, a broadcast program or a broadcast service provider. Thebroadcast related information may also be provided through a mobilecommunication network. In this case, the information may be received bythe mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast related information may exist in various forms. Forexample, it may exist in the form of an electronic program guide (EPG)of digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) or an electronic service guide(ESG) of digital video broadcast-handheld (DVB-H).

The broadcast receiving module 111 may receive a digital broadcastsignal by using a digital broadcasting system such as a digitalmultimedia broadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T) broadcasting system, adigital multimedia broadcasting-satellite (DMB-S) broadcasting system, amedia forward link only (MediaFLO) broadcasting system, a digital videobroadcast-handheld (DVB-H) broadcasting system, or an integratedservices digital broadcast-terrestrial (ISDB-T) broadcasting system. Thebroadcast receiving module 111 may also be configured to be suitable forother broadcasting systems in addition to the above-described digitalbroadcasting systems.

A broadcast signal and/or broadcast related information received throughthe broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits and receives a wirelesssignal to and from at least one of a base station, an external terminaland a server on a mobile communication network. The wireless signal mayinclude various types of data depending on the transmission andreception of a voice call signal, a video call signal or atext/multimedia message.

The wireless internet module 113 indicates a module for a wirelessInternet connection and may be built in or provided separately from theterminal 100. As a wireless internet technology, wireless LAN (WLAN,Wi-Fi), wireless broadband (Wibro), world interoperability for microwaveaccess (Wimax), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) or the likemay be used.

The short range communication module. 114 indicates a module for shortrange communication. As the short range communication technology,Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared dataassociation (IrDA), ultra wideband (UWB), ZigBee may be used.

The position information module 115 is a module for obtaining theposition of a mobile terminal and includes a global position system(GPS) module as a typical example.

Referring to FIG. 1, the AV input unit 120 is used for an audio signalor video signal input and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 122.The camera 121 processes a picture frame of a still image or a videoobtained by an image sensor in a video call mode or in an imaging mode.The processed picture frame may be displayed on the display unit 151.

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory160 or externally transmitted through the wireless communication unit110. The camera 121 may be arranged in plurality depending on the usageenvironment.

The microphone 122 receives an external sound signal in a call mode, arecording mode, or a voice recognition mode and processes the signalinto electrical voice data. In the call mode, the voice data obtainedthrough the processing may be converted into a format that enablestransmission to a mobile communication base station through the mobilecommunication module 112, and the data obtained through conversion maybe output to the mobile communication base station. Various noiseremoving algorithms for removing noise generated in the process ofreceiving an external sound signal may be implemented in the microphone122.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for the operation controlof a user terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad, adome switch, a (static pressure/capacitive) touch pad, a jog wheel, anda jog switch.

The sensing unit 140 senses the current states of the terminal 100 suchas an open/close state of the terminal 100, a position of the terminal100, whether a user touches the mobile terminal 100, an orientation ofthe mobile terminal, and acceleration/deceleration of the mobileterminal and generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation ofthe terminal 100. For example, when the terminal 100 is of a slide phonetype, it is possible to sense whether a slide phone is open or close.Moreover, it is also possible to sense whether power is supplied by thepower supply unit 190 or whether the interface unit 170 is coupled to anexternal device. The sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor141.

The output unit 150 is used for generating a visual, auditory or tactileoutput and may include the display unit 151, a sound output module 152,an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154.

The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by theterminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode,the display unit 151 displays user interface (UI) or graphic userinterface (GUI) related to a call. When the terminal 100 is in a videocall mode or in an imaging mode, the display unit 151 displays an imagedand/or received image, the UI, or the GUI.

The display unit 40 may include at leas one of a liquid crystal display(LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), anorganic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, and a 3Ddisplay.

Some of the displays may be configured as transparent or opticallytransferable to enable viewing of the outside therethrough. The displaysmay be referred to as transparent displays which include a transparentOLED (TOLED) as a typical example. The back structure of the displayunit 151 may also be configured as optically transferable. Due to such astructure, a user may see objects located at the back side of a terminalbody through a region which the display unit 151 of the terminal bodyoccupies.

Depending on the implementation of the terminal 100, the display unit151 may exist in plurality. For example, a plurality of display unitsmay be arranged on one surface of the terminal 100 to be spaced apartfrom one another or integrally or may also be respectively arranged ondifferent surfaces thereof.

When the display unit 151 and a sensor sensing a touch operation(hereinafter, referred to as a ‘touch sensor’) form a mutually layeredstructure (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘touch screen’), the displayunit 151 may also be used as an input device in addition to the outputdevice. The touch sensor may be in the form of e.g., a touch film, touchsheet, or touch pad.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert, a change in pressureapplied to a specific portion of the display unit 151 or in capacitancegenerated at a specific portion of the display unit 151, into anelectrical input signal. The touch sensor may be configured to be ableto detect pressure of touch in addition to position and area of thetough.

When there is a touch input to the touch sensor, a correspondingsignal(s) is transmitted to a touch controller. The touch controllerprocesses the signal(s) and then transmits corresponding data to thecontrol unit 180. Accordingly, the control unit 180 may be aware of atouched region of the display unit 151.

Referring to FIG. 1, the proximity sensor 141 may be arranged in theinternal region of the mobile terminal, surrounded by the touch screen,or near the touch screen. The proximity sensor 141 indicates a sensorthat detects the absence and presence of an object approaching a certaindetection face or an object near the proximity sensor without mechanicalcontact by using the force of an electromagnetic field or an infraredray. The proximity sensor 141 has a longer lifetime than a contactsensor and also has a wide application.

Examples of the proximity sensor 141 include a transmissivephotoelectric sensor, a direct reflective photoelectric sensor, a mirrorreflective photoelectric sensor, a high-frequency oscillating proximitysensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, andan infrared proximity sensor. When the touch screen is of a capacitivetype, it is configured to detect the proximity of a pointer by using achange in electric field due to the proximity of the pointer. In thiscase, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximitysensor.

For the convenience of description, an action of recognizing that thepointer approaches the touch screen and is located on the touch screenwithout a contact is referred to as a “proximity touch” and an actionmade when the pointer is in actual contact with the touch screen isreferred to as a “contact touch”. The position where the proximity touchis made with the pointer over the touch screen means the position wherethe pointer is perpendicular to the touch screen when the pointer makesthe proximity touch.

The proximity sensor senses the proximity touch and proximity touchpatterns (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction,a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touchposition, and proximity touch moving state). Information correspondingto the sensed proximity touch operation and proximity touch patterns maybe displayed on the touch screen.

The sound output module 152 may output audio data received from thewireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a callsignal receiving mode, a call mode, a recording mode, a voicerecognition mode, and a broadcast receiving mode. The sound outputmodule 152 also outputs a sound signal related to a function that isperformed by the terminal 100 (e.g., a call signal incoming tone and amessage incoming tone). The sound output module 152 may include areceiver, a speaker, a buzzer or the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for indicating generation of anevent of the terminal 100. Examples of an event generated by the mobileterminal include call signal reception, message reception, a key signalinput and a touch input. The alarm unit 153 may also output signals informs different from a video signal or audio signal, for example, asignal for indicating generation of an event through vibration. Thevideo signal or audio signal may also be output through the display unit151 or the voice output module 152 and thus the components 151 and 152may be classified as portions of the alarm unit 153.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that a user mayfeel. A typical example of a tactile effect generated by the hapticmodule 154 is vibration. It is possible to control the intensity andpatterns of the vibration generated by the haptic module 154. Forexample, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or may besequentially output.

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 154 may generate varioustactile effects such as an effect of stimulus due to a pin arrangementmaking a motion perpendicular to a contact skin surface, an effect ofstimulus due to a jet force or suction force of air through a jet holeor a suction hole, an effect of stimulus due to rubbing a skin surface,an effect of stimulus due to an electrode contact, an effect of stimulusdue to an electrostatic force, and an effect due to a reproduction ofcold and warmth using a device capable of absorbing or radiating heat.

The haptic module 154 may not only transmit tactile effects throughdirect contact but may also enable the user to feel tactile effectsthrough a kinesthetic sense of the user's fingers or arms. Depending onthe configuration of the mobile terminal 100, the haptic module 154 mayexist in plurality.

The memory 160 may store programs for the operation of the control unit180 and temporarily store data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a stillimage, and a video) that is input and output. The memory 160 may storedata on sound and vibrations in various patterns that are output whenthere is a touch input on the touch screen.

The memory 160 may include as a storage medium, at least one of a flashmemory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro type memory, acard type memory (for example, a secure digital (SD) or extreme digital(XD) memory), a random access memory (RAM), a static RAM (SRAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), aprogrammable ROM (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk and anoptical disk. The terminal 100 may also operate in relation to a webstorage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 over theinternet.

The interface unit 170 functions as a path to all external devicesconnected to the terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data fromexternal devices, receives power and transmits the data or power to eachcomponent of the terminal 100, or transmits data from the terminal 100to the external devices. For example, the interface unit 170 may includea wired/wireless headset port, an external charger port, awired/wireless data port, a memory card port, a port connecting a devicethat includes an identification module, an audio input and output (I/O)port, an video I/O port, and an earphone port.

The identification module is a chip storing various pieces ofinformation for authenticating authority to use the terminal 100 and mayinclude a user identify module (UIM), subscriber identity module (SIM),and a universal subscriber identity module (USIM). A device thatincludes the identification module (hereinafter, referred to as an“identification device”) may be manufactured in the form of a smartcard. Thus, the identification device may be connected to the terminal100 via a port.

When the mobile terminal 100 is connect to an external cradle, theinterface unit may be a path through which power from the cradle issupplied to the mobile terminal 100 or may be a path through whichvarious command signals input at the cradle by a user are transmitted tothe mobile terminal. The power or the various command signals input fromthe cradle may operate as a signal for recognizing that the mobileterminal is correctly installed in the cradle.

The control unit 180 typically controls the overall operations of themobile terminal. For example, the control unit 180 performs the controland processing associated with voice calls, data communication, andvideo calls. The control unit 180 may also include a multimedia module181 for playing multimedia. The multimedia module 181 may be implementedin the control unit 180, or may be implemented separately from thecontrol unit (180).

The controller 180 may perform pattern recognition processing capable ofrecognizing a handwritten input or a picture-drawing input performed onthe touch screen, as a character and image.

The power supply unit 190 receives internal power or external powerunder the control of the control unit 180 and provides power requiredfor the operation of each of components.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in e.g., arecording medium that may be read with a computer or a similar device byusing software, hardware or a combination thereof.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described hereinmay be implemented by using at least one of application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digitalsignal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs),field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,micro-controllers), microprocessors, and other electrical units forperforming functions. In some cases, the embodiments may be implementedby the control unit 180.

According to software implementation, embodiments such as procedures orfunctions may be implemented along with a separate software module thatperforms at least one function or operation. Software codes may beimplemented by software applications that are written in properprogramming languages. The software codes may be stored in the memory160 and may be executed by the control unit 180.

In the following, the operating method of a terminal according to anembodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 10.

In the following, a character may mean a single character unit and acharacter string may mean a unit including two or more characters.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of recovering a character by aterminal according to an embodiment.

The control unit 180 receives a user input for the displaying of a texttool window in step S101. The control unit 180 may receive the userinput for the displaying of the text tool window through a touch sensor.In another embodiment, the control unit 180 may receive the user inputfor the displaying of the text tool window through an external inputdevice such as a keyboard or mouse.

The control unit 180 displays the text tool window through the displayunit 151 according to the user input received for the displaying of thetext tool window in step S103. The text tool window is described withreference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows the process of displaying the text tool window according toan embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 180 may display a text tool window200 through a display unit (not shown) when a user input for thedisplaying of the text tool window 200 is received. The text tool window200 may include a text input region 210 and a text display region 220.

The text input region 210 may be a region including a plurality ofbuttons that perform operations for correcting or recovering a characterto be input or a character input to the text display region 220 throughthe user input.

The text input region 210 may include letter buttons 211 and a pluralityof function buttons 213 to 215. The letter buttons 211 may includebuttons for consonants and vowels for Hangul, alphabet letters, numbers,and symbols.

The plurality of function buttons 213 to 215 may include a delete button213, a space button 214, and a search button 215.

When the delete button 213 is selected by a user input, one character inthe character string displayed on the text display region 220 may bedeleted. In this case, as a cursor 221 moves to the left side, onecharacter may be deleted. When the space button 214 is selected by theuser input, no characters are displayed on the text display region 210and the cursor 221 to be described below may move to the right by onespace. When the search button 215 is selected by the user input, asearch for information on the character string displayed on the textdisplay region 220 may be performed.

The plurality of function buttons may further include buttons that mayperform other various operations.

The text display region 220 may be a region for displaying the processof correcting or recovering a character to be input or a character inputthrough a user input. The text display region 220 may be located overthe text input region 210.

The cursor 221 and a delete button 223 that delete all characters may bedisplayed on the text display region 220. The cursor 221 may blink for acertain time, and when a character is displayed on the text displayregion 220 by a user input, the cursor may move to the right of thedisplayed character. That is, the cursor 221 functions as an indicatorthat indicates the position of a character to be input to a user.

When the delete button 223 that delete all characters is selected by theuser input, all the characters displayed on the text display region 220may be deleted.

Refer back to FIG. 2.

The control unit 180 enables the text tool window 200 to enter a generalmode and receives a character input from a user in step S105. In anembodiment, the general mode is a mode different from a characterinsertion mode to be described below and may mean a mode in which it ispossible to input, delete or recover a character. Referring back to FIG.3 for description, the control unit 180 may receive a character inputthrough the selection of the letter button 211 in the text input region210. In an embodiment, the selection of the letter button 211 may bereceived by a user touch without limitation thereto and the selection ofthe letter button 211 may be received by an external input device suchas a keyboard or mouse.

Refer back to FIG. 2.

The control unit 180 displays the character input according to thereception of the character input through the text tool window 200 instep S107. Related descriptions are provided with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the process of displaying a characteraccording to character input reception according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows when the character string ‘ABCDEXGHIJK’ is displayed on thetext display region 220 by the selective reception of the letter button211. That is, each of characters may be input according to the selectionof the letter button 211 by a user so that the character string may bedisplayed. In this case, the cursor 221 moves to the right of the letterK that has been input last according to the input of the characterstring.

Refer back to FIG. 2.

Then, the control unit 180 receives a character deletion input fordeleting a portion of the characters in step S109 while the charactersare displayed on the text display region 220, and displays the changedstate of the deleted portion of the characters in step S111. Relateddescriptions are provided with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the process of deleting a characteraccording to character input reception according to an embodiment.

The following description is provided on the assumption that the letter‘X’ in the character string ‘ABCDEXGHIJK’ has an error. An embodiment isdescribed on the assumption that one letter has an error but does notneed to be limited thereto, and it is also possible to apply when thereare errors in consecutive characters or between characters in thecharacter string.

FIG. 5 shows the process of deleting the portion ‘XGHIJK’ from thecharacter string ‘ABCDEXGHIJK’ according to a user's character deletioninput in the text display region 220. In an embodiment, the characterdeletion input may be performed by the selective reception of the deletebutton 213. That is, when a user touches the delete button 213 manytimes to approach a character to be deleted in order to correct anerror, the cursor 221 may move to a position corresponding to the numberof times the delete button 213 is pressed, deleting characters. In thisexample, the deleted character string ‘XGHIJK’ may be displayed in adifferent color from the remaining character string ‘ABCDE’. That is,when the remaining character string ‘ABODE’ is displayed in a blackcolor, the deleted character string ‘XGHIJK’ may be displayed in a graycolor. However, an embodiment does not need to be limited thereto andthe deleted character string may be displayed in many manners. Forexample, it may also be displayed as a transparent background or onlythe contour of each character may be displayed. If the deleted characterstring is displayed as the transparent background, a user may check thedeleted character string with his or her eyes.

In an embodiment, the character deletion input may be performed by usingother methods except for the delete button 213. That is, after the usertouches the cursor 221 for a certain time, drags and drops the cursor221 to the position of a character to be deleted and then inputs thedelete button 213, it is possible to delete the character string‘XGHIJK’ that the user wants to delete.

Refer back to FIG. 2.

The control unit 180 receives a new character input through a user inputin step S113 and displays the changed state of the newly input characterin step S115. Related descriptions are provided with reference to FIG.6.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the processes of receiving a newcharacter input while characters are partially deleted and of displayingthe changed state of the newly input character according to anembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, a user may touch the letter button 211 for theletter ‘F’ at the position of the letter ‘X’ having a typographicalerror to display the new letter ‘F’ on the text display region 220. Inthis case, the newly input letter ‘F’ may be displayed in the same coloras the remaining character string ‘ABCDE’. In another embodiment, thenewly input letter ‘F’ may be displayed in different colors from theremaining character string ‘ABCDE’ and the deleted character string‘GHIJK’ to enable a user to visually recognize an error corrected state.According to the input of the new letter ‘F’, the cursor 221 moves tothe right of the displayed letter ‘F’.

Refer back to FIG. 2.

The control unit 180 receives a recovery input for recovering thedeleted characters in step S117 while the changed state of the newlyinput character is displayed, and recovers the deleted charactersaccording to the reception of the recovery input to display therecovered characters on the display unit 151 in step S119. Variousmethods may be used for the reception of the recovery input. In anembodiment, the control unit 180 may automatically recover the deletedcharacters when an input of selecting a side of the deleted characterstring in the text display region 220 is received. In this case, thedeleted characters may be displayed in the same color in the remainingcharacters.

In another embodiment, the control unit 180 may automatically recoverthe deleted characters when an input of touching the newly inputcharacter for a certain time is received.

In another embodiment, the control unit 180 may automatically recoverthe deleted character when an input of selecting the cursor 221 locatedon the right of the newly input character is received and then an inputof dragging and dropping the cursor to the end of the deleted characterstring is received.

In another embodiment, the control unit 180 may automatically recoverthe deleted character string when an input of selecting a separateedition completion button is received.

The processes of receiving the recovery input for recovering the deletedcharacters and of recovering the deleted characters according to thereception of the recovery input are described with reference to FIGS. 7to 10.

FIGS. 7 to 10 are diagrams for explaining the processes of receiving arecovery input for recovering deleted characters according to anembodiment and of displaying the deleted characters according to thereception of the recovery input.

Firstly, FIG. 7 shows an embodiment where the deleted characters areautomatically recovered when an input of selecting a side of the deletedcharacter string in the text display region 220 is received.

Referring to FIG. 7, when a user deletes a letter having a typographicalerror, inputs a new letter ‘F’ and then touches the end of the deletedcharacter string ‘GHIJK’, the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ may berecovered. What the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ is recovered maymean that it is displayed in the same color as the remaining characterstring ‘ABCDE’. That is, when the end of the deleted character string‘GHIJK’ is touched while the remaining character string ‘ABCDE’ isdisplayed in a black color and the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ isdisplayed as a transparent background, the deleted character string‘GHIJK’ may be displayed in the black color.

The time for which the touch is maintained may be one second, which ishowever an example. In an embodiment, when a user touches a portion ofthe deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ instead of the end of the deletedcharacter string ‘GHIJK’, the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ may berecovered.

When there is a typographical error in the middle of the characterstring, the user may correct the error through such a process and easilyrecover the deleted character string by a simple touch operation withouta need to re-input the deleted character string. Thus, since it is easyto correct and recover characters, user convenience may increase.

Next, an embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 8 where deletedcharacters are automatically recovered when an input of touching a newlyinput character for a certain time is received.

Referring to FIG. 8, when a user deletes a letter having a typographicalerror, inputs a new letter ‘F’ and then touches where the input letter‘F’ is located, the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ may be recovered.What the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ is recovered may mean that itis displayed in the same color as the remaining character string‘ABCDE’.

Next, an embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 9 where deletedcharacters are automatically recovered when an input of selecting thecursor 221 located on the right of the newly input character is receivedand then an input of dragging and dropping a cursor to the end of adeleted character string is received.

Referring to FIG. 9, when a user deletes a letter having a typographicalerror, inputs a new letter ‘F’, touches the cursor 221 located on theright of the input letter ‘F’, dragging and dropping the cursor 221 tothe right of the letter ‘K’ at which the deleted character string‘GHIJK’ ends, the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ may be automaticallyrecovered. What the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ is recovered maymean that it is displayed in the same color as the remaining characterstring ‘ABODE’.

Next, an embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 10 where adeleted character string is automatically recovered when an input ofselecting an edition completion button is received.

Referring to FIG. 10, when a user deletes a letter having atypographical error, inputs a new letter ‘F’ and then touches theedition completion button 225, the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ maybe automatically recovered. What the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ isrecovered may mean that it is displayed in the same color as theremaining character string ‘ABCDE’.

The automatic recovery of the deleted character string that has beendescribed in FIGS. 7 to 10 may be applied even after a portion of thedeleted character string is input. That is, when the user corrects theletter having the typographical error to the letter ‘F’, inputs theletter ‘G’ being a portion of the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ andthen performs an automatic recovery operation, the character string‘HIJK’ may also be recovered automatically.

Next, a method of operating a terminal according to another embodimentis described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 17.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of recovering a character by aterminal according to another embodiment.

Since steps S201 to S211 are the same as steps S101 to S111 that havebeen described in FIGS. 2 to 10, their detailed descriptions areomitted.

The control unit 180 enables the terminal 100 to enter a characterinsertion mode in step S213. In an embodiment, the character insertionmode is a mode in which it is possible to insert a character betweencharacters, and may be different from a general mode that has beendescribed in FIG. 2. In an embodiment, the character insertion mode maybe entered by the second successive touch of the cursor 221 or by theselection of a separate character insertion button. Related descriptionsare provided with reference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the process of entering, by aterminal, a character insertion mode according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 may be a process that is performed after the process in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 12, when a user deletes a letter having atypographical error, inputs a new letter ‘F’, and then touches thecursor 221 twice times successively, a mode may be changed from ageneral mode to a character insertion mode. When the mode of thedocument tool window 200 enters the character insertion mode, the colorof the cursor 221 may also be changed and the shape of the cursor 221may also be changed so that the vertical length of the cursor 221becomes longer. Also, when the mode of the document tool window 200enters the character insertion mode, the blinking of the cursor 221 mayalso disappear.

In another embodiment, when a user deletes a letter having atypographical error, inputs a new letter ‘F’, and then touches thecharacter insertion button 227, the mode of the document tool window maybe changed from the general mode to the character insertion mode.

In another embodiment, when the user touches the cursor 221 for a presettime, the mode of the document tool window may be changed from thegeneral mode to the character insertion mode. In this example, thepreset time may be two seconds, which are only an example.

Refer back to FIG. 11.

The control unit 180 receives a character insertion input through a userinput in step S215 while the terminal 100 has entered the characterinsertion mode, and displays a character inserted according to thecharacter insertion input in step S217. In this case, the characterinserted through the user input may be located between the remainingcharacter string and the deleted character string. Related descriptionsare provided with reference to FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the process of displaying acharacter input through a user input while a document tool window hasentered a character insertion mode according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 13, the characters ‘NN’ may be displayed in the textdisplay region 220 when the user inputs the characters ‘NN’ by selectingthe letter button 211 in FIG. 12. In this case, since the document toolwindow 200 operates in the character insertion mode, the insertedcharacter string ‘NN’ may be displayed between the letter ‘F’ newlyinput or obtained through correction and the deleted character string‘GHIJK’. If the letter ‘F’ obtained through correction is not input, theinserted characters ‘NN’ may be displayed between the remainingcharacter string ‘ABCDE’ and the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’.

In an embodiment, the inserted character string ‘NN’ may be displayed inthe same color as the remaining character string ‘ABCDE’ and the newlyinput letter ‘F’ or in different color therefrom. When the insertedcharacter string ‘NN’ is displayed in a different color from thecharacter string ‘ABCDE’, it may also be displayed in a different colorfrom the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’.

The embodiment of FIG. 13 may be different from the embodiment of FIG.6. That is, in the general mode of FIG. 6, the newly input letter ‘F’ isdisplayed on the position of the deleted letter ‘X’ but in the characterinsertion mode, the newly input letters ‘NN’ are not displayed on thepositions of the deleted letters ‘GH’ but are inserted and thendisplayed.

As will be described below, a user may recover a character deleted wheninserting a character into the necessary position of a character string,without re-inputting the deleted character.

Refer back to FIG. 11.

The control unit 180 enables the text tool window 200 to enter a generalmode through a user input in step S219. The general mode is a modedifferent from the above character insertion mode and may mean a mode inwhich it is possible to input, delete or recover a character. Theentrance into the general mode may be performed in the same manner asthe entrance into the character insertion mode. That is, when in FIG.13, the cursor 221 is touched two times successively, the mode of thedocument tool window 200 may be changed from the character insertionmode to the general mode.

In another embodiment, when a user touches the character insertionbutton 227, the mode of the document tool window 200 may be changed fromthe character insertion mode to the general mode.

The control unit 180 receives a recovery input for recovering thedeleted characters in step S221 while the document tool window 200 hasentered the general mode, and recovers the deleted characters accordingto the reception of the recovery input to display the recoveredcharacters on the display unit 151 in step S223. Various methods may beused for the reception of the recovery input. In an embodiment, thecontrol unit 180 may automatically recover the deleted characters whenan input of selecting a side of a deleted character string in the textdisplay region 220 is received. In this case, the deleted characters maybe displayed in the same color in the remaining characters.

In another embodiment, the control unit 180 may automatically recoverthe deleted characters when an input of touching a portion of therecovered character string for a certain time is received.

In another embodiment, the control unit 180 may automatically recoverthe deleted characters when an input of selecting the cursor 221 locatedon the right of the inserted character string is received and then aninput of dragging and dropping the cursor to the end of the deletedcharacter string is received.

In another embodiment, the control unit 180 may automatically recoverthe deleted character string when an input of selecting a separateedition completion button is received.

The processes of receiving the recovery input for recovering the deletedcharacters and of recovering the deleted characters according to thereception of the recovery input are described with reference to FIGS. 14to 17.

FIGS. 14 to 17 are diagrams for explaining the processes of receiving arecovery input for recovering deleted characters and of displaying thedeleted characters according to the reception of the recovery inputaccording to another embodiment.

Firstly, FIG. 14 shows an embodiment where deleted characters areautomatically recovered when an input of selecting a side of a deletedcharacter string in the text display region 220 is received.

Referring to FIG. 14, when a user inserts the character string ‘NN’ andthen touches the end of the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’, thedeleted character string ‘GHIJK’ may be recovered. What the deletedcharacter string ‘GHIJK’ is recovered may mean that it is displayed inthe same color as the remaining character string ‘ABCDE’. That is, whenthe end of the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ is touched while theremaining character string ‘ABCDE’ is displayed in black color and thedeleted character string ‘GHIJK’ is displayed as a transparentbackground, the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ may be displayed in ablack color.

The time for which the touch is maintained may be one second, which ishowever an example. In an embodiment, when a user touches a portion ofthe deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ instead of the end of the deletedcharacter string ‘GHIJK’, the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ may berecovered.

When there is a typographical error in the middle of the characterstring and there is a need to further insert a character, the user maycorrect the error through such a process, insert the character and theneasily recover the deleted character string by a simple touch operationwithout a need to re-input the deleted character string. Thus, since itis easy to correct and recover characters, user convenience mayincrease.

Next, an embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 15 where deletedcharacters are automatically recovered when an input of touching aninserted character for a certain time is received.

Referring to FIG. 15, when a user inserts the character string ‘NN’ andthen touches a place where the portion ‘N’ of the inserted characterstring is located, the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ may berecovered.

What the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ is recovered may mean that itis displayed in the same color as the remaining character string‘ABCDE’. In another embodiment, when a user touches a place where theletter ‘F’ obtained through correction is located, the deleted characterstring ‘GHIJK’ may be recovered. What the deleted character string‘GHIJK’ is recovered may mean that it is displayed in the same color asthe remaining character string ‘ABCDE’.

Next, an embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 16 where deletedcharacters are automatically recovered when an input of selecting thecursor 221 located on the right of inserted characters is received andthen an input of dragging and dropping a cursor to the end of a deletedcharacter string is received.

Referring to FIG. 16, when a user inserts the character string ‘NN’,touches the cursor 221 located on the right of the inserted characterstring ‘NN’, drags and drops the cursor 221 to the right of the letter‘K’ at which the deleted character string ‘GHIJK’ ends, the deletedcharacter string ‘GHIJK’ may be automatically recovered. What thedeleted character string ‘GHIJK’ is recovered may mean that it isdisplayed in the same color as the remaining character string ‘ABCDE’.

Next, an embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 17 where adeleted character string is automatically recovered when an input ofselecting a separate edition completion button is received.

Referring to FIG. 17, when a user inserts the character string ‘NN’ andthen touches the edition completion button 225, the deleted characterstring ‘GHIJK’ may be automatically recovered. What the deletedcharacter string ‘GHIJK’ is recovered may mean that it is displayed inthe same color as the remaining character string ‘ABCDE’.

Various embodiments may be applied to fields in which a character isinput and applied. For example, applications may include when atelephone number is input and corrected through a terminal, when amessage is input and corrected through a messenger application, when atext message such as SMS or MMS is input or corrected, or when a loginor search is performed while a web browser operates.

According to an embodiment, the above-described method may also beembodied as processor readable codes on a program-recorded medium.Examples of the processor readable medium are a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, amagnetic tape, a floppy disk, and an optical data storage device, andthe method is also implemented in the form of a carrier wave (such asdata transmission through the Internet).

The above-described mobile terminal is not limited to the configurationand method of described embodiments, and some or all of the embodimentsmay also be selectively combined so that various variations may beimplemented.

1. A method of operating a terminal, the method comprising: displaying atext tool window; receiving a character string input to display a wholeof the received character string on the displayed text tool window;receiving a character deletion input for deleting a portion of thedisplayed character string; receiving a character recovery input forrecovering the deleted portion of the character string; and recoveringand displaying the deleted portion of the character string according tothe receiving of the character recovery input.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the receiving of the character recovery inputcomprises receiving the character recovery input through an input ofselecting a side of the deleted character string.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising, after the receiving of thecharacter deletion input, receiving a new character input, wherein thereceiving of the character recovery input comprises receiving thecharacter recovery input through an input of selecting the newly inputcharacter for a preset time.
 4. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising displaying, a cursor moving according to an input of thecharacter string, on the text tool window.
 5. The method according toclaim 4, wherein the receiving of the character recovery inputcomprises: receiving a selective input of the cursor located at a frontend of the deleted portion of the character string, and receiving a dragand drop operation input to a rear end of the deleted portion of thecharacter string, maintaining the selective input of the cursor.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the receiving of the characterrecovery input comprises receiving the character recovery inputaccording to a selection of an edition completion button displayed onthe text tool window.
 7. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising displaying the deleted portion of the character string in adifferent color from a remaining character string according to thereceiving of the character deletion input.
 8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein the displaying of the deleted portion of the characterstring in the different color from the remaining character stringcomprises displaying the remaining character string in a black color andthe deleted character string as a transparent background.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising receiving an insertion modeinput for inserting a character between the deletion portion of thecharacter string and a remaining character string in the whole characterstring.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingdisplaying, a cursor moving according to an input of the characterstring, on the text tool window. wherein the receiving of the insertionmode input comprises receiving an input of selecting the cursor twotimes successively.
 11. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising displaying, a cursor moving according to an input of thecharacter string, on the text tool window, wherein the receiving of theinsertion mode input comprises receiving an input of selecting thecursor for a preset time.
 12. The method according to claim 9, furthercomprising: receiving an input of a character that is inserted intobetween the deletion portion of the character string and the remainingcharacter string; and displaying an inserted character according to thereceiving of the character input.
 13. The method according to claim 12,further comprising displaying the displayed inserted character in a samecolor as the remaining character string.
 14. The method according toclaim 12, wherein the receiving of the character recovery inputcomprises receiving the character recovery input by selecting a side ofthe deleted character string.
 15. The method according to claim 12,wherein the receiving of the character recovery input comprisesreceiving the character recovery input through an input of selecting theinserted and displayed character for a preset time.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 12, further comprising displaying, a cursor movingaccording to an input of the character string, on the text tool window,wherein the receiving of the character recovery input comprises:receiving a selective input of the cursor located at a front end of thedeleted portion of the character string, and receiving a drag and dropoperation input to a rear end of the deleted portion of the characterstring, maintaining the selective input of the cursor.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the receiving of the character recoveryinput comprises receiving the character recovery input according to aselection of an edition completion button displayed on the text toolwindow.
 18. A terminal comprising: a touch screen comprising a touchsensor and a display unit; and a control unit, wherein the control unitdisplays a text tool window, receives a character string input todisplay a whole of the received character string on the displayed texttool window, receives a character deletion input for deleting a portionof the displayed character string, receives a character recovery inputfor recovering the deleted portion of the character string, recovers anddisplays the deleted portion of the character string according to thereceiving of the character recovery input.
 19. The terminal according toclaim 18, wherein the control unit selects a side of the deletedcharacter string to receive the character recovery input.
 20. Theterminal according to claim 18, wherein the control unit receives thecharacter recovery input through an input of selecting a newly inputcharacter for a preset time.